Center for the Study of Human Flourishing Launches Israeli-Palestinian Pathways to Peace Program

The King’s College is pleased to announce a new program housed under The Center for the Study of Human Flourishing: the Israeli-Palestinian Pathways to Peace program. This new program will focus on the historical, political, cultural, and religious relationships between Israelis and Palestinians in light of the preferential option for peace in the region. Participating students will study ancient and modern Hebrew thought and culture, including the history and politics of Israel and Palestine.

The program includes colloquia designed to engage students in listening and learning about the contours of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the peace process. Multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural learning opportunities will be enhanced through off-campus excursions, such as a tour of the Jewish migration to New York City, a tour of the United Nations headquarters, and visits to Jewish museums, including the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. For qualifying students, the program also includes an opportunity to travel to Israel to hear from Jews and Palestinians about the ancient and modern roots of the current political, intellectual, and economic status of the region.

“I am thrilled that we are launching this new program at The Center for the Study of Human Flourishing,” says Dr. Anthony Bradley, director of The Center for the Study of Human Flourishing, associate professor of religious studies, and the program chair of Religious and Theological Studies at The King’s College.

 It will help us develop partnerships with other universities and organizations in the U.S. and abroad and better understand what is needed for lasting peace in the region. What happens in Israel is important to us at The King’s College. We want our students to be exposed to the realities on the ground as much as possible, so that they can develop historically informed perspectives on what is needed for Israelis and Palestinians to flourish.

Dr. Gregory A. Thornbury, president of The King’s College says that he is “incredibly excited” about the new program. “It is of utmost importance for our students to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and I am pleased that they will have the opportunity to learn about it in this engaging way,” he says. “I hope that it inspires some of our students to use their King’s education to be peacemakers in the region.”